Fresh Apple Bundt Cake

This spiced apple Bundt cake features chopped fresh apples, grated coconut, walnuts or pecans, and a buttery brown sugar glaze.

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Updated October 26, 2023
Elise Bauer
Best Fresh Apple Bundt Cake on a Platter Being Glazed with a Spoon

Simply Recipes / Michelle Becker

When it's apple season here in Northern California, we are picking and processing daily from our trees (3 trees, 15 varieties). Of the many apple recipes we have on the site, this fresh apple cake is one of my favorites.

You simply cannot go wrong with this apple cake! It uses three whole cups of chopped, peeled apples. We like to use a variety of apples for baking—Granny Smith, Gravenstein, Fuji, Jonagold. That way you get more complex flavors from the various apples in the cake.

For more information on which apple varieties are best for baking, check out our Guide to Apples.

The Secret Ingredient

The secret ingredient for this cake, that you wouldn't expect to find in an apple cake, is ... wait for it....

...coconut!

We add a cup of sweetened, shredded coconut to the apple cake batter, which not only makes this apple bundt cake more moist, it adds wonderful texture as well.

Apple Bundt Cake on a Plate with Piece Cut Out

Simply Recipes / Michelle Becker

Many thanks to my dear friend Marjorie for passing along this wonderful cake recipe from Mrs. Paxton of Lexington, Virginia.

More Delicious Apple Cakes

Fresh Apple Bundt Cake

Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 70 mins
Total Time 90 mins
Servings 12 to 16 servings
Yield 1 cake

You can also make muffins with this recipe. Standard muffin tins, 24 muffins, 25 minutes bake time.

Ingredients

For the cake:

  • 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil

  • 2 cups sugar

  • 3 large eggs, slightly beaten

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

  • 3 cups peeled, cored, and chopped apples (varieties that are good for baking, such as Granny Smith, Gravenstein, Fuji)

  • 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut

  • 1 cup chopped nuts, walnuts or pecans

For the glaze:

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 1 cup brown sugar

  • 3 tablespoons milk

Method

  1. Preheat the oven and grease the pan:

    Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and flour a bundt pan and set it aside.

  2. Make the cake batter:

    Beat together the sugar and oil. Add the eggs. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.

    Add dry ingredients to the wet mixture in thirds, beating to incorporate after each addition.

    Mix in the vanilla, apples, coconut, and chopped nuts.

    Two Bowls (One with Wet Ingredients and the Second with Sifted Dry Ingredients) Next to a Sieve for Fresh Apple Cake

    Simply Recipes / Michelle Becker
    Dry Ingredients Added to Wet Ingredients in Apple Bundt Cake Recipe

    Simply Recipes / Michelle Becker
    Apples, Chopped Nuts, and Coconut Added to Apple Cake Recipe

    Simply Recipes / Michelle Becker
  3. Bake:

    Transfer the batter to the prepared Bundt pan, gently smoothing the top with a spatula. Bake until a long thin bamboo skewer or toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 60-70 minutes.

    Simple Tip!

    If the top is browning too quickly, lightly cover it with foil.

    Toothpick Check on Best Fresh Apple Bundt Cake Recipe

    Simply Recipes / Michelle Becker
  4. Cool and remove from the pan:

    When cool enough to handle, gently remove from pan. Let sit on a rack to cool completely. If the dough has raised substantially around the middle areas of the bundt ring, you may need to use a bread knife to gently level off the cake so that it sits evenly.

  5. Glaze the cake:

    Stir together the glaze ingredients in a small saucepan over medium-low heat and cook until the butter and sugar are melted.

    Prick all around the top of the cake with a fork so that when the glaze is applied it easily seeps into the cake. Place the cake on a serving dish.

    Use a pastry brush to apply the glaze liberally around the surface area of the cake, or use a spoon to dribble the glaze on the cake.

    Did you love this recipe? Give us some stars below!

    Pot of Glaze for Best Fresh Apple Bundt Cake

    Simply Recipes / Michelle Becker
    Fork Used to Poke Holes into Fresh Apple Bundt Cake Sitting on Cooling Rack

    Simply Recipes / Michelle Becker
    How to Make the Best Fresh Apple Bundt Cake

    Simply Recipes / Michelle Becker
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
533 Calories
31g Fat
61g Carbs
5g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12 to 16
Amount per serving
Calories 533
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 31g 40%
Saturated Fat 6g 28%
Cholesterol 43mg 14%
Sodium 307mg 13%
Total Carbohydrate 61g 22%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Total Sugars 40g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 0mg 1%
Calcium 33mg 3%
Iron 2mg 9%
Potassium 136mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.